With the active roster making a few million less than Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw and three Rule 5 draftees in the clubhouse, the Padres figured to have several newbies to an opening day lineup. The card that Andy Green filled out Monday morning had five to be exact – Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe, Ryan Schimpf, Austin Hedges and Travis Jankowski.

Schimpf’s rise, in particular, is worth rehashing as he prepares to hit in the middle of the order as the Padres’ third baseman.

The 28-year-old infielder was a national champion at LSU and a fifth-round pick only to spend seven years in Toronto’s system without even a sniff of the majors. The Padres signed Schimpf to a minor league deal before the 2016 season, assigned him to Triple-A El Paso to start the season and finally brought him to the majors last June after a blistering three months in the Pacific Coast League (1.160 OPS, 15 HRs, 48 RBIs).

After three more months, Schimpf ended his first campaign in the majors – a half season, mind you – with 20 homers, 51 RBIs and a .869 OPS.

“Right when he showed up, you saw what he had,” Green said. “He hits the ball as hard as anybody, he’s a guy who walks, a guy who gets on base. … It’s exciting to see what Ryan Schimpf has done. He was on pace for 40 jacks last year.”

The start at third base is Schimpf’s 13th. He started 66 games at second before the Padres decided this spring to swap him and Yangervis Solarte, who is hitting third today.

Another lineup notable: The right-handed Margot draws leadoff duties against Kershaw, while Jankowski is hitting ninth. The look, Green said, could put Wil Myers (two-hole) into a position to drive in runs when the lineup turns over.

NOTABLE

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the average age of the Padres’ 25-man roster is 27 years and seven days old. Only the Reds (26 years, 356 days) are younger.